Women’s Basketball falls to RMU in NEC finals

The women’s basketball team ended its season by falling to top-seeded Robert Morris, 65-54, in the NEC Championship on March 17.

“It was a great season and one that no one really expected,” said senior Jess Kovatch. “Toward the end, we kind of figured it was now or never, and we really started to come together as a team.

“I am really proud of all of the obstacles that our team overcame this year.”

The Red Flash finished 16-17 overall and 11-7 in the NEC. The team used a quarterfinal home win over Bryant and a semifinal win over second-seed Sacred Heart to earn a spot in the NEC title game.

“Sometimes the game just doesn’t go your way,” said senior Courtney Zezza. “As a team, we all fought really hard during that game and all the ones leading up to it.

“I don’t really think anyone expected us to finish the season in the NEC Championship.”

Kovatch and Zezza have definitely left their mark on the program.

Kovatch finishes her career as a two-time NEC Player-of the-Year after scoring 2,874 points during her four years at SFU. She is the school and NEC’s all-time leading scorer for both men’s and women’s basketball.

She also ranks second all-time in NCAA history with 472 career three-pointers.

“I am really thankful for the opportunity I had at Saint Francis,” said Kovatch. “As a person, I have accomplished a lot, but I would be no where without my teammates and coaches who have pushed me this far.”

Zezza finished her career with 299 blocks, a school record, to go along with 891 points.

“It’s been a really great and memorable four years,” said Zezza. “I think this senior class has definitely left a mark in the program’s history.”